World Bank urges AI adoption in developing economies
Analysis based on 66 articles · First reported Mar 09, 2018 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026
The report could spur increased investment in AI infrastructure and services in developing countries, benefiting technology companies and local startups. It may also influence government policies and international development funding, potentially boosting economic growth in emerging markets.
The World Bank Group released its annual World Development Report 2026, titled 'The Promise of Artificial Intelligence,' on Tuesday, urging developing countries to embrace AI to accelerate economic growth. Chief Economist Indermit Gill stated that AI offers a 'lifeline' for emerging economies, allowing them to achieve a century's worth of development in a decade if they address gaps in power, connectivity, and skills. The report highlights that developing economies have more to gain and less to fear from AI than richer nations, with only 4.5% of jobs at risk compared to 14.2% in high-income countries. It advocates for adapting low-cost AI tools to local conditions to improve healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance. The report warns that failing to adopt AI could leave developing countries behind, and that AI could widen gaps between nations and increase inequality. It calls for investments in electricity, computing power, and local data, and stresses the need to build public trust. The report was written with assistance from AI tools from OpenAI, DeepSeek, Alphabet Inc., and Anthropic.
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